AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“It would be easier if we rip this wall out,” says the tradesman, as he attempts to convince me for the third time to destroy part of the castle as it’ll make his job easier.
“And it’d be easier if I rip yer tongue out,” I counter, standing firm.
He pales, knowing my threat isn’t empty. “This will cost another—”
But he soon stops in his tracks when I arch a brow.
“All right, we won’t change a thing.”
“Grand,” I reply, thankful he’s finally clued on.
There is no way I’m going to be tearing down walls, or adding a fucking theatre room just because. This castle has belonged to the Kellys for generations. It was the place my ma treasured. Even though I only remember bits and pieces from when she was alive, I do recall the pride she took in her home, especially her gardens.
I intend to restore it to its former glory to honor my ma and Connor.
Ronan has sent his colleagues to commence work on the castle because tonight is the meeting with Sean. We both agreed it’s too dangerous to be seen together, especially if Sean has eyes on the castle. We can’t let on that we’re onto him.
So far, I haven’t seen him. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t watching. Underestimating Sean is what got me here. I think about all that he’s done, how I thought him killing Nolen Ryan was a favor to me. But he did that because Nolen was a threat. He was going to tell me the truth, but Sean killed him before he could.
He has always been ten steps ahead.
As I’m clearing the debris from the master bedroom, I dig into my pocket for my mobile to check my calendar as I’m still getting used to keeping track of days and weeks, but when I read over the text from Babydoll which was sent over two hours ago, I forget about everything but her.
I need to get to Dublin.
I woke alone. I was hoping it was because she saw reason. That she went to Rory after realizing she and I can never be. She clearly left without saying goodbye because she was angry with me. But that’s nothing new. We’re constantly angry with one another. And now she’s gone to Dublin just to show me how fucking angry she is.
“Fuck!” I curse when I dial her number, only for it to go to voicemail.
Jumping into my truck, I rake down the drive, not bothering to tell anyone where I’m going. All I care about is getting to Dublin. I don’t know why she’s gone to see Brody, but what I do know is that this can’t be good.
I decide not to call Cian. The fewer people who know about this, the better as Brody Doyle seems to leave a trail of destruction wherever he goes.
Looking at the clock on the dashboard, I realize that Ronan will be calling soon with information about where tonight’s meeting will take place. But I can’t worry about that. This, getting to Babydoll, takes precedence over everything.
She is all that matters.
Slamming my fist against the steering wheel, I seem to understand Connor more and more every day.
“Rule with the cruelty I taught ya because it’s the only way to survive in our world.”
That’s what he said to me before he took his last breath. He knew of the repercussions of falling in love. Look what his love for my ma did. He knew that love can be used as collateral, and in the hands of the wrong people, love can destroy kingdoms.
It has.
He didn’t want that for me, so he taught me how to hate instead.
But I rebelled when I should have listened because I will crawl to hell and back to keep Babydoll safe. She is my one weakness, and that makes her valuable to my enemies. That puts her in danger, and to someone like Babydoll, where trouble seems to follow her, I need to keep her within arm’s reach.
The drive to Dublin takes longer than I want, but I keep to the speed limit, not wanting to alert the peelers to anything suspicious, especially with Constable Shane Moore on the scene.
I thought being released would be simple—find Sean and kill him, and save Ethan. But every corner I turn, I’m faced with one obstacle after another.
The world isn’t what I remember it to be, and I realize it was easier once upon a time because of Connor. He ensured everything was kept in order. Aye, he strayed from the path and lost the respect of his men in the end, but that’s because he trusted the wrong person—Sean.
Everything comes down to him. We all trusted him, and for that, we now pay the price for our foolishness. Finding him and making him pay, and pay painfully slow, can’t come soon enough.
Once I’m in Dublin, I try Babydoll’s phone again, but it’s still switched off. Dread churns in the pit of my stomach.
